Worlds Collide

At this rate, It seems that Severus Snape would never be able to fully escape his chronic headaches.

He sighed and massaged his temples, feeling extremely exhausted.

He had been worrying himself sick over his problem student, Osamu Dazai, as well as normal teacher life and ended up running himself ragged. No matter how much he longed for a break, the universe always found a way to laugh in his face.

“You can’t be serious?” Snape asked. He had a hard time buying what Minerva was saying to him. Something like this was unfathomable.

“I am serious. There is no current evidence to prove this theory is correct, but we should still remain cautious. Merlin, the greatest wizard in history, is said to have been the only one to experience this phenomenon. Stay alert.” Minerva, the temporary headmistress, lectured.

Snape noted that Dumbledore’s desk still looked exactly how it always had- nothing out of place.

He closed his eyes. Dazai seemed to have been able to sense the magic around him better while closing his eyes. The greasy haired man couldn’t see white in the sensing stone, but yellow should amount to something… right?

…

Nothing. Snape couldn’t sense the supposed unbalance of magical power that was said to be currently roaming around Hogwarts.

Theory states that an imbalance of magical power could cause “worlds to collide” so to speak, which basically means alternate universes merging in a way.

But what did that mean for them, exactly?

“He didn’t leave behind any particular indication of this happening, but there are stories that had been passed down through generations about his tale. Supposedly, Merlin was able to go into an alternate universe before inevitably returning. As far as what he experienced there, the story had been so distorted over the years that we can’t claim anything specific as fact.”

What a pain…

“Hopefully the alternate universe will summon me so I can take a much needed vacation.” Snape grumbled.

Even if he could run away from his problems, it wouldn’t solve any of them. Mr. Dazai was still being abused at home in the port mafia.

“As I’ve said before, there’s no evidence to suggest this’ll actually happen. Stay alert and report anything out of the ordinary, but I believe things will remain as normal until the magic balances itself back out.”

“Alright then.”

-

Once he was back in his room for the night, Snape found it quite difficult to fall asleep. He allowed his mind to race with all kinds of things.

‘Mr. Dazai is able to see white in the sensing stone… maybe he’s able to sense what’s going on? I should ask him about it tomorrow.’ He thought to himself with a growing feeling of irritation. ‘Knowing him, he probably already knows and is scheming something distasteful.’

Severus felt the never ending headache pound in his skull.

‘That problem child…’

-

Snape’s classroom was busy and loud as usual. Students were stirring their potions while reading their notes for instruction.

He frowned at the sight of most of the potions’ colors being slightly off. Instead of a fire engine red, many of them appeared to be a raspberry shade of red.

‘These damn brats can’t do anything right, can they?’

He glanced over to Dazai and Blaise who were seat buddies as per usual.

Dazai’s potion was a perfect shade of red. Snape felt his stiff look of irritation loosen up a bit. Blaise’s wasn’t exactly the right shade, but it was much closer than raspberry.

‘That’s my problem child.’ Snape thought with a satisfied nod. He’d never show that satisfaction on his cold-as-stone face, however.

“Time is running out. Go ahead and start bottling up your potions for me to grade later.” He commanded.

Blaise bottled up Dazai’s potion for him, like always.

Snape made his way behind his desk and took a seat. The students lined up and handed their potions to him one by one. He met most of their eyes with a scowl and some of the students looked like they would’ve wet themselves if they weren’t so used to his glares by now.

Dazai was last and handed his bright red potion to Snape with a smile.

“Excellent job.” Snape nodded with a plain face. He made sure to say it loud enough for the other students to hear.

They were back to their seats by then and most looked irritated at Dazai.

“Aww, don’t tell me this means I’ll get a 100%!” The boy whined. “It totally kills the ‘slacker’ vibe I’ve got going on.”

Snape set the potion down and sighed. “I don’t think ‘slacker’ is the vibe you have going for you lately.”

He made a point to look at the students around the room- at the terrified or irritated faces they usually wore when around Dazai.

“Putting that aside, it was a perfect brew. At this rate, you’ll actually pass my class.”

“Boring!” Dazai put his arms behind his head and Snape rolled his eyes.

The brunette boy turned on his heel and slowly started towards his seat when something unexpected happened: A light yellow portal appeared below Dazai’s feet and he stumbled. Right as he turned to face Snape, he was already falling through it.

The last thing Snape saw of him was the boy’s crimson eye that appeared to hold a mix of fear, confusion, and surprise.

It’s not often when he sees Dazai’s mask slip slightly, but seeing the boy completely maskless in that brief moment caused a pit of dread and worry to materialize in his gut.

“Dazai!” He called out frantically, but he was already gone.

‘Well, there goes my chance of a vacation- wait no! Don’t think such things in your stupor! There are more important things to worry about!’ He shook his head after the thoughts ended.

He was standing in the spot Dazai disappeared at. The only thing that stared back up at him was the cold, hard floor.

“Dazai!” Blaise called out as he rushed over. This got the attention of the other students.

“Blaise? What’s wrong?” Draco ran up to his side.

“Dazai… he’s gone… just like that.”

“What do you mean he’s gone?” Hermione asked.

“He fell through a weird portal-looking thing.”

“Portal? Sir, what’s going on?” Ron asked Snape, who managed to finally breathe out for the first time since seeing Dazai’s panicked expression.

Dazai had appeared to be looking at Snape for help.

Or maybe that was all in his head? Still, he knew he needed to get his problem child back!

“That portal… connects to an alternate universe.” Snape stated, firm.

The students looked at him shocked before Hermione gasped loudly.

“A what?!”

-

“Ouch.” Dazai groaned as he shuffled himself to sit up on his knees.

He had fallen through the portal, directly onto the stone floor. He landed on his face and knees with his bottom up in the air. How embarrassing…

‘Where the hell did I-?’ When he looked around while rubbing his nose, he was equally surprised and relieved to see himself on the floor of Snape’s potion classroom.

He looked over to Snape who was wearing a bewildered expression.

“Uh, sir? What just happened?” He asked.

Snape continued to stare at him in silence. The longer he stared, the more his face changed from confusion to anger. He crossed his arms to make a point.

Dazai raised a brow but glanced around at the students watching him. They looked extremely confused as well.

Their faces… they weren’t looking at him with contempt for once… why is that?

“Uh… sir…” Dazai tried again. Snape’s expression didn’t change. “Is there something on my face or something?”

“WHAT are you doing here?” Snape finally asked.

That wasn’t the question Dazai was expecting to hear.

“I’m in class… sir?”

“Who are you?”

Dazai felt his blood run cold. Who was he? What did he mean by that? Snape isn’t the type of guy to pull pranks like this.

“What do you mean? I’m Dazai: your favorite student.”

“I don’t have a favorite student.” Snape snarled.

“Aw, that’s so mean coming from my favorite professor.” Dazai whined.

“I’ve never seen you before in my life.”

“You see me every day, sir!” Dazai sighed. “Are you pranking me or something? I’ll admit, you’re the last person I’d expect to be pulling a prank like this-.”

“Shut up.”

Dazai clamped his mouth shut.

“You’re wearing a Hogwarts uniform. Where did you get that from?”

“I got it right before I started school here.”

Snape watched Dazai, clearly deep in thought. ‘No… it’s not actually possible… is it?’ He brought his finger to his chin.

“Blaise! Tell professor Snape to stop being so mean to me!” Dazai called out.

Blaise stayed silent with his eyes slightly wide.

That wasn’t like him. He’d normally rush right to Dazai’s side.

“Draco! Don’t tell me Blaise is in on this prank too!”

“Who in the bloody hell are you?” Draco scoffed.

“Language, boy.” Professor Snape said.

Draco dramatically huffed and crossed his arms.

“Hermione.” Dazai’s eye found Hermione on the other end of the classroom. She startled when he addressed her. “You’d never prank me like that, right?”

She stared at him, silently.

“What is up with the silent treatment? Look, if you guys are mad about me faking my death the other day, I promise I’ll die for real this time! Just please stop this prank!” He fake whined. The students started looking at each other in their confusion.

“Ron-“ Dazai stopped when he saw the unfamiliar face sitting next to the Weasley. He had brown hair, green eyes, and round glasses.

“Boy.” Professor Snape spit out.

Dazai turned to face his favorite professor, back straight and his mask perfectly placed on his face. “Sir?”

“I believe… you’re from an alternate universe.”

“Alternate universe?”

“Yes. The magic in the air has been unstable lately. Apparently, the theory states that when the magic in the air becomes unstable, there’s a chance that two alternate universes can collide, so to speak.” He’d have to thank Minerva for warning him and Dumbledore last night in the Headmaster’s office.

Dazai took a moment to process before nodding. “I see. That’s why the magic around here has felt so weird lately.”

“Felt weird?”

“Anyways, how am I supposed to get back home?” He felt uneasy being in a world without Mori’s orders, surrounded by so many unknowns. His friends, his professors, everyone was a potential enemy here.

He'd just have to change that… just like he did with the few people on his side back home.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to meet with the headmaster and look into it.”

‘Headmaster… so Dumbledore hasn’t been kicked out in this alternate universe.’

“In the meantime, take off your robe.”

“How come?”

“Because you don’t actually attend school here. You’re not one of my snakes.” Snape held out his hand.

Dazai hesitated for a moment and clutched his robe over his chest. After a puff of air, he took it off and handed it to Snape. He wasn’t used to the bandages on his arms being more exposed. The robe hides them so well.

Snape noted the bandages and the boy’s skinny frame as he folded the robe before setting it on the edge of his desk.

“My students finished their potions and are taking the time to read over their textbook. For now, you can share a book with another student and study as well.”

“Oh, I already read that whole textbook-“

“What did I say, boy?” Snape spoke sternly.

“Yes sir.” Dazai immediately wandered towards Blaise.

“Hey Blaise! Think mummy boy wants something from you?” Pansy laughed which earned a chuckle from Draco.

“Ah Pansy! It’s never a delight to see your face!” Dazai clapped his hands together and beamed, which earned him a scoff from the girl.

“I don’t know… I’ve never met this guy before.” Blaise raised a brow.

Oh right… None of his friends knew him here.

“What do you want?” Draco looked him up and down. “You’re not trying to sit with us, are you?”

Dazai eyed Draco before briefly locking eyes with Pansy and then Blaise.

Dazai’s second in command looked at him, confused.

“Well, these seats are taken, so what can I do?” Dazai shrugged.

He decided to sit with his Gryffindor friends instead since they were nicer to him in the beginning. Gotta start somewhere.

The Gryffindors eyed him cautiously as he crossed the room.

A slytherin was walking to the Gryffindor side of the classroom…

As the Slytherins watched, the snakes all of a sudden had venom. They were out for blood.

“Ron!” Dazai cheered. He was met with a scowl in return.

“What does a no good death eater want with me?”

“Not this again!” Dazai whined. He’s behaving in the exact same way he did their first year- before they really bonded by sneaking out past curfew and stalking their old wizard mafia professor…

Dazai is truly back at the beginning. All of his hard work training his dogs amounted to absolutely nothing here. He had finally gotten them to stop barking at each other like wild mutts, too.

He threw his arms around Ron’s neck and whined like a toddler. “Ron, don’t do this to me now!! We spent two years bonding and becoming friends all for you to throw it away just because I’m from a different universe!”

“Hey, get offa me!” Ron pulled on the sweater vest covering Dazai’s back, but was unsuccessful in trying to throw him off of him. “I don’t buy that for a second! Why would I be friends with a Slytherin! You must be messing with me!”

“But I was sorted into Slytherin before the hat even touched my head! You said so yourself, that I’m an honorary gryffindor!”

“Slytherins are no good, the lot of you!” Ron continued to struggle to get Dazai off of him while Dazai still held onto him for dear life.

“That’s enough, mate!” The unknown boy next to Ron spoke up. He tried prying Dazai’s locked arms off from the back of Ron’s neck.

“Hermione! Tell Ron to stop being so mean to me!” Dazai cried out with fake desperation. Hermione cleared her throat and the three boys stopped wrestling and paid attention to her.

“Your name is Dazai, right?”

“Yes.”

“Well, Dazai, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Hermoine Granger. I’d be happy to share my book with you if you’d like.”

“Hermione, you’re a life saver!” Dazai let go of Ron who loudly groaned, and excitedly sat next to Hermione. She happily flipped through her book until she landed on the correct page.

“Here we go, page 183.” She said.

“By the way Hermione, I already know you, so introductions weren’t necessary.”

“Well, considering I don’t know you, I felt it was appropriate.”

“Hmm, whatever you say.”

“So… what am I like in your universe?”

“Let’s see: Hermione is one of my very good friends! We’ve spent countless hours in the library together, combing over books and sharing our findings.”

Hermione’s eyes lit up excitedly at that.

“We even snuck in the restricted section of the library together one night. I know that if I ever need help researching any topic, Hermione is always my go-to person to ask.”

“That sounds just lovely.” She smiled.

“She’s also a part of my gang!”

“Your what-?”

“You know, I wanted to ask you: would you want to research this alternate universe thing with me? This place seems fine and all, but I really have to get back home.”

She stared at his interruption with surprise as she thought it over. “Yes, I’d be happy to research this topic with you. I’m actually quite intrigued about it, myself.”

“Then we’re a team!” Dazai held out his hand and Hermione gladly shook it with a smile.

“Sounds fun! Let’s meet before dinner.”

“Sure.”

“Silence, both of you.” Professor Snape came up behind them. “Read the textbook without the unnecessary chatter.”

“Yes sir.” Hermione looked away, guiltily.

Dazai flashed Snape a toothy grin which caused him to feel incredibly annoyed.

“There is something about this kid…

-

“He is a Slytherin, yet, he’s interacting with Gryffindors like they’re old pals… those bandages seem very ominous... This mysterious kid was thrown into our world (quite literally) and is already making things more interesting.

He said he’s my favorite student and I’m his favorite professor. He also knows several of the other students- going as far as to refer to them as ‘friends.’

Whatever is going on, we need to get to the bottom of things quickly! I don’t like this one bit.”

“Aww, that's nice! Calling you his favorite professor? This kid must be something else.” Dumbledore sat up from his relaxed position and put his elbows on his desk. Snape angrily clicked his tongue in response.

“What do you propose we do?” Minerva spoke up.

“Whatever is happening, it would make a great story for my next novel!” Lockhart ran his hand through his own hair. The other professors rolled their eyes at him.

“Gilderoy, this isn’t the time.” Snape barked.

“What do you mean? This is an ample, once in a lifetime opportunity! We should take it while we can. I propose we delay the investigation and keep the boy here for as long as we can.”

The group of professors started whispering amongst themselves at Lockhart’s expense.

‘This guy is as insufferable as usual.’ Snape thought to himself, enraged. He struggled to keep his lips sealed, and had his fists clenched at his sides.

One more word from this guy, and Snape might throw hands.

“We will continue on with the investigation.” Albus spoke up, silencing the room.

“Minerva, you’re in charge of combing through our old texts, in search of answers. In the meantime, we will have the boy attend his classes as he normally would. I entrust his usual educators to keep an eye on the boy. Finally, Severus, I’m putting you in charge of watching over the boy while he’s not in his classes.”

Snape scoffed at that.

“We don’t know what this boy is capable of. For now, I think his ‘favorite professor’ should be the one to keep tabs on him, seeing as he has established some trust with you.”

Snape felt his tense body loosen up as he sighed. He couldn’t argue with the point Dumbledore made, no matter how annoying it was.

‘Dammit…’